State Party News

GOP Healthcare Plan Explained

Below is an explanation of the GOP's new plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare:

COMMUNICATIONS BRIEFING - REPEAL AND REPLACE EDITION

Republicans Unveil Plan to Repeal and Replace ObamaCare

Top Line

ObamaCare has led to higher costs and fewer health insurance options for millions of Americans.

Even leading Democrats have admitted it is a failure.

Bill Clinton railed against ObamaCare as a “crazy system” that “doubled” American’s premiums and left them with less coverage.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, the highest ranking Democrat in the country, admitted that passing ObamaCare was a mistake and “wasn’t the change that people wanted.”

The President promised to repeal and replace this disaster, and that is exactly what he is working with Congress to achieve.

He is confident that Republicans in Congress will deliver on their promise to the American people and bring positive change to our broken healthcare system.

The President has laid out five core principles that will guide the process of finalizing the bill.

First, we should ensure that Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to coverage, and that we have a stable transition for Americans currently enrolled in the healthcare exchanges.

Secondly, we should help Americans purchase their own coverage, through the use of tax credits and expanded Health Savings Accounts –- but it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by the Government.

Thirdly, we should give our great State Governors the resources and flexibility they need with Medicaid to make sure no one is left out.

Fourthly, we should implement legal reforms that protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the price of insurance – and work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs and bring them down immediately.

Finally, the time has come to give Americans the freedom to purchase health insurance across State lines, creating a truly competitive national marketplace that will bring cost way down and provide far better care.

Read House Republicans' Two-Page Fact Sheet on the American Health Care Acthere.

The Affordable Care Act is unaffordable

The 2010 healthcare law has brought the American people rising premiums, unaffordable deductibles, fewer insurance choices, and higher taxes to pay for skyrocketing costs.

In just the past year, ObamaCare premiums have gone up 25 percent on average.

Since ObamaCare was instituted, premiums have risen by over 40 percent on average, and in some places have risen by over 100 percent.

Individuals have insurance that they cannot afford to use – high deductibles distort the meaning of coverage.

The two most popular ObamaCare health plans have average deductibles equivalent to 10 percent and 6 percent of the median American household income.

Independent analysis found 41 states faced higher average healthcare deductibles last year, with 17 states facing double digit rate increases.

Americans have fewer choices and failing options

As insurers leave the marketplace, Americans are left with fewer insurance choices, as nearly one in five Americans have only one insurer from which to choose.

No one can deny Obamacare is in a ‘death spiral’ when the number of Americans with only one insurer from which to choose jumps from 2 percent to 18 percent in one year.

In five states, Americans have no choices: Alaska, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming have only one insurer

Nearly a third (1,021) of all U.S. counties in 2017 have only a single insurer participating in the Obamacare marketplace.

In just the past year, coverage choices have dropped 28 percent as issuers left the market.

Things are only getting worse

This past year, nearly 20 million Americans opted not to get healthcare insurance, with 6.5 million paying the penalty.

Actual enrollment in ObamaCare has missed initial estimates by millions of people, with 400,000 fewer people signing up in 2017 than last year

America’s largest insurers have either left, considered leaving or have substantially scaled back their participation.

President Obama broke his promises, and the American people want change

Americans were promised that ObamaCare would bring down healthcare costs but were let down.

Americans were promised they could keep their healthcare plans under ObamaCare but were let down.

Americans were promised that ObamaCare would increase competition between insurance providers but were let down.

Americans were promised that ObamaCare would not raise taxes on the middle-class but were let down.

Public polling shows that the American people overwhelmingly support an alternative to ObamaCare.

Paid for by the Oklahoma Republican Party. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

OKGOP Weekly Update: February 18-25

Published: 18 February 2017

Senate Confirms Scott Pruitt as Head of EPA

Greetings Fellow Republicans,

The OKGOP is incredibly proud to announce that Scott Pruitt has been confirmed by the United States Senate by a vote count of 52-46 to be the next Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency!

Administrator Pruitt served as Oklahoma's Attorney General with distinction and an unwavering dedication to always do what was best for Oklahoma, oftentimes in the face of incredible opposition. Pruitt constantly battled federal overreach and cumbersome regulations that worked against many Oklahoma families, farmers, and businesses.

Pruitt sued the Federal Government over Obamacare and combated the Department he is set to lead by suing the EPA over their highly contentious Waters of the United States rule, which would have given the EPA dominion over puddles, trenches, and small ponds in your backyard.

We know that Administrator Pruitt will fight to repeal many of the overbearing regulations that were enacted during the previous Administration with the same passion that he represented Oklahoma with for many years. We wish him the best of luck and look forward to seeing what he accomplishes in Washington, D.C. as he leads an integral aspect of President Trump's plan to Drain the Swamp!

The OKGOP is hosting a Victory Ball to bring a taste of the Presidential Inauguration Ball experience home to Oklahoma! The event is black-tie optional, which means all the ladies and gentlemen may wear formal gowns and tuxedos--or just wear your favorite dresses and suits!

The VIP Reception will include pictures and discussions with Oklahoma's Congressmen. Tickets for the Dinner and Ball include an incredible dinner, a cash bar, dancing, and lively conversation--all in the Ball Room of the Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa.

Join our Congressional Delegation as we listen to the latest inside stories of President Trump's efforts to drain the swamp and help us celebrate our electoral successes at the state and national levels!

*If you would like to sponsor this event, please call the OKGOP at 405-528-3501.*

The OKGOP has launched a new interview series called Meet Your Legislator. Look for these short interviews on Facebook, on our YouTube channel, and in our Weekly Updates to get to know our legislators a little better!

This week the OKGOP Director of Communications Bennett Beard interviewed Representatives Cockroft and Roberts at the Capitol.

Representative Cockroft

Representative Roberts

The OKGOP depends on generous contributions from our fellow Oklahoma Republicans. Please consider donating to the Party to show your support for our Rebuilding Oklahoma publication series and Meet Your Legislator interview series!

April 8:State Convention Committee Meetings for Platform, Rules and Credentials

April 22:Platform Committee Meeting #2 (Only if needed)

May 5:OKGOP Gala Dinner

May 6:2017 Oklahoma Republican State Convention at First Moore Baptist Church in Moore, OK.

More information will be provided as these events approach.

Other Events

OCCC Public Affairs Forum

You are invited to attend the Public Affairs Forum on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the OCCC Sarkeys Atrium in the Visual and Performing Arts Center. Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating is the third speaker in the Oklahoma City Community College Public Affairs Forum series. The nonpartisan forum is designed to give students, faculty, staff, and the community members insight into the politics during the speaker’s time in office and how those political issues impact Oklahoma today. The forum features a past or current Oklahoma political leader each semester.

Precinct Meetings and County Conventions will be held NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017. Precinct Meetings and County Conventions are scheduled on a Precinct-by-Precinct and County-by-County basis. For more information, contact your respective County or Precinct. Below is a list of counties who have contacted us about their scheduled meetings.

Canadian:Precinct meetings are encouraged to be held in each precinct, but the Canadian County Republicans will host meetings from 9:30AM-1:30PM before their County Convention for those who do not conduct one. For more information, contact Julia Seay at 405-834-5384.

Keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube! We are constantly updating, sharing news stories, recording interviews with legislators, and doing merchandise giveaways! Click the Facebook and Twitter buttons below to be redirected to our OKGOP social media profiles!